Guide for venetian blinds



Dec. 30, 1930. T. E. VM NULTY 1,

GUIDE FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Feb. 16, 1929 Patented Dec. 30, 1930 rnoMAs E. MCN'ULTY, OEALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA GUIDE FOR VENETIAN BLINID'S Application filed February 16, 1929. Serial No. 340,519.

This invention relates particularly to a guiding apparatus for Venetian blinds.

An object of the invention is to provide a guideway on each of the opposite vertical sides of a window or door opening within which Venetian blinds may be mounted, to guide the opposite sides of the said blinds in the up and down travel thereof when being moved into the collapsed or extended positions.

' i A further object of the invention is to provide a guide forVenetian blinds consisting of a pair of wires separateda predetermined distance and adapted to receive therebetween a slider mounted onthe ends of each of the strips forming a Venetian blind, to maintain the entire blind in a predetermined position relative to the opening within which it is arranged and to also maintain each of the strips comprising the blind, in a predetermined relation relative toeach other.

A still further object of the invention'is to provide a slide member to be attached to each of the strips comprising a Venetian blind that consists of a base portion, a neck portion, and a head portion, the base portion being adapted to be suitably located onthe strip of theblind to confine the neck portion between the wires of the guideway, whereby the said slide is free tomove vertically and to eliminate-the possibility of either the slide or the strip from contacting with any part of the window or door open- -ing within which the Venetian blind is mounted to interfere with the free movement thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a guiding apparatus for y Venetian blinds that will be superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in use and general efficiency.

' In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be underof 1 construction,

stood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawings: g I

Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross section, partly broken away, through the upper end of a window. or door opening having aVenetian blind therein, and a guiding apparatus therefor constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a apparatus shown in Fig. 1. 4

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken through Fig.

1, on the line 3 3. o i

Fig. t is a fragmentary detail in perspective of one of the sliders for the strips of the Venetian blind confined between the vertical guides. 1

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the bridges for holding the wire guides in spaced relation. I

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lower part of a fragmentary portion of a window opening showing my apparatus for guiding the Venetian blind.

7 front elevationof a fragmentary portion of the Venetian blind guiding Fig. 7 is a modified form of the-invention showing the guiding apparatus for the Venetian blind projected out from the face of the opening within which the said blind may be mounted.

, Y so Fig. 8 is a plan section taken through Fig.

be understood that only a detail of one side of a complete opening is shown, and the connections of the strips of the blind on one side only, to the guiding apparatus is indicated inasmuch as the connection'of the blind on the opposite side of the opening to the guiding apparatus is precisely the same.

This invention is designed primarily for Venetian blinds of a conventional type, which usually consist of a series of flat strips joined together in such a manner that when arranged across the entire area of a window or door opening, the said strips may be adjusted into any desired angle to regulate the amount of light that may pass through the opening, and also the said strips may be drawn together into a relatively tight and compact stackof strips.

In Figs. 1 and 6, the jamb 1 extends from the head of the opening to the bottom thereof, and on the face of said jamb, adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, I have mounted a bridge 2, such as shown in Fig. 5. Each of the bridges 2 are secured to the face of the jamb .1, by a fastening screw 3, or other equivalent attaching medium, A wire 4 has one end thereof looped around the screw 8 and is twisted upon itself between the'head of thescrew and the base of the bridge, and said wire is passed up over the upper bridge 2 and down to the lower bridge 2, whereit is looped around thebottom screw 3" and the end 5 thereof, then returned back upto the upper screw 3 and looped upon'said screw. Each of the bridges 2 are provided with a pair of spaced grooves 6 therein and the opposite lengths 6 and 7 of wire 4; liein said grooves and are thus maintained inspaced parallel relation. The grooves in each bridge, space the wires 6 and 7 apart a selected distance and also space said wires away from the face of the jamba selected distance.

The wire guiding structure thus far described is for use in connection with a Venetian blind which is positionable within a window or door'opening.

Where it is desirable to have a Venetian blind positionable outside of and over and across a window or door opening, it is necessary to use a modified form of structure for supporting the guiding wires in verticalposition. To accomplish this, 1 use thestructure shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10. The modified form of the invention consists of a bracket 7, secured to the face of thecasing or other trim upon a window or door opening, said bracket having an eyelet 8 arranged in the extended end thereof, in substantially a perpendicular position. The eyelet. is provided with two depressions 9 therein, for holding the guiding wires, to be hereinafter described, in a relatively vertical position. A bracket 10 is provided at the lower end of the casing, having a plate 11 with a slot 12 therethrough, through which the guide wires are adapted to pass. A shoulder or hook 13 is provided on the bracket 10 below the slot 12. A guide wire has one end 1 1, thereof, attached to one side of the eyelet 8, said wire extending down through the slot 12 in the bracket 10 around the bottom of the shoulder 13, and is returned upwardly parallel with the other end of the same wire into connection with the eyelet 8. 'The two lengths of wire are maintained in spaced parallel re lation, the same as the wires in the preferred form of the invention. By making both of the wire guides out of the'same strand of wire,

it is possible to draw both sides of the same intoarelatively taut position merely by drawing up one end of the wire tightly upon the eyelet or screw to which it is fastened. The eyelet 8 is held in the upper bracket 7 by an adjusting nut 15 which can be moved on the threaded shaft of the eyelet to regulate the tension on the guide wires.

The strips of the Venetian blind are indicated by the numeral 16. Each strip 16 at each of the opposite ends thereof, is

provided with a slide plate thereon consisting of a base portion 17, extended 'neck 18, and head portion19. The base of the slider may be located in any desired position relaof spacing the head 19 thereon in proper relation to the guide ,wires, so that the said neck piece is free to slide up and down between the guide wires, irrespective of the position of angularity of the strips of the Venetian blind. The head 19 on the slider 'tive to the end of thestrip, forthe purpose The strips of the Venetian blind normally assume a substantially horizontal position or an angular positlon closely approaching the 'horizontal, and the over-all length of the head on the slider is such as to retain the said strips in sliding position at all times. How-- ever, in order to remove any selected slider I from sliding confinement between the guide wires, it is only necessary to place the strip in a relatively vertical position whereby the head on the slider will readily pass out from between the guide wires. 7 l j The method of operation of the slider in either the preferred or modified forms of the invention is identically the same. I have found thata guiding apparatus constructed,

in accordance with my invention operates more efficiently within wire guides of the form shown than when arranged between any other type of guiding apparatus, and furthermore, the wire guides can be installed more cheaply andquickly than any other type of guiding mechanism.

Having thus described this-invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A guide for a window shade comprising a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the shade; and a plurality of slides arranged in spaced relation along said side of the shade, slidably confined by the wire guides.

2. A guide for a window shade comprising a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the shade; and a plurality of slides. arranged inspaced relation along said side of the shade, each slide consisting of a flat base secured to the shade, a rounded neck on the base extended between the wire guides and an elongated head on the neck positionable at the rear of the wire guides, to confine the wire guides between the head and base in allnioveinents of the shade.

3. A guide for a Venetian blind consisting of a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the blind; and a slide attached to an end of each of the strips formingdthe blind, slidably confined by the wire gul es.

4. A guide for a Venetian blind consisting of a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the blind; a slide attached to an end of each of the strips forming the blind, each slide consisting of a flat base secured to the strips on the blind, a rounded neck on the base extended between the wire guides, and an elongated head on the neck positionable at the rear of the wire guides, said neck in all movements of the blind being slidably confined by the wire guides.

5. A guide for a Venetian blind consisting of a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the blind; a bridge member to hold the wires a selected distance apart; and a slide attached to an end of each of the strips forming thecblind, slidably confined by the wire guides.

6. A guide for a Venetian blind consisting of a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the blind; a bridge memher to hold the wires a selected distance apart; a slide attached to an end of each of the strips forming the blind, each slide consisting of a fiat base secured to the strips on the blind, a rounded neck on the base extended between the wire guides, and an elongated head on the neck positionable at the rear of the wire guides, said neck in all movements of the blind being slidably confined by the wire guides.

7 A guide for a Venetian blind consisting of a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the blind; means to regulate the tension of the guide wires; and a slide attached to an end of each of the strips forming the blind, slidably confined by the wire guides.

8. A guide for a Venetian blind consisting of a pair of wires arranged in spaced parallel relation at a side of the blind; means to regulate the tension of the guide wires; a

slide attached to an end of each of the strips blind being slidably confined by the wire' guides.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this I 7th day of February, 1929.

THOMAS E. MONULTY. 

